Self Propelled Submergible Pump

ABSTRACT

The subject of the invention is self propelled submergible pump that is placed on the bottom of a water course and obtains propelling energy from the dynamic force of the movement of the water mass in which is placed. It consists of pumping hi-pressure part integrated with horizontally placed system of the driving blades pairs, of which one half constantly turns its largest C surface against water stream and the second half turns its many times smaller surface against the water stream which causes a simultaneous rotation of the blades and continuous self propelled pumping of the submergible pump.

The subject of the present invention is a self propelled submergible pump that uses as propellant the mass of moving water. The pump may have any known technical design: a piston pump, a peristaltic pump, a membrane pump or a centrifugal pump all with or without mechanical multiplier to increase the propellant number of revolutions needed by selected type of pump. The only technical requirement of selected pump must be its technical adaptation for long—term use under the water level. Such chosen submergible pump must be fixed on a concrete or other heavy and water resistant big mass base which after complete assembly should be placed to the bottom of the moving water. On the top of the pump propellant system is fixed on the main horizontal axle equipped with an integrated system of rotating and self adjustable at least two pairs of blades. Water stream pushes blades to rotation with automatically changes of limited operating angle of each pair of blades. It causes the blades on one side of propelling system to turn their largest surface against the water stream and oppositely laying blades to turn their smallest surface against the water stream. The invention belongs to Class FO1D 7/00 of the international patent classification.

The technical problem successfully solved by the present invention is permanent propelling of a pump submerged in water without any kind of external mechanical, electric or other known energy source. That means that submergible pump is exclusively propelled by energy received from movable mass of the water. The pump needs an adequate depth of the water course which may vary from approx. 1 meter to several 10 meters yet fluctuation of the water level does not have fatal influence on the operation of submergible pump. Moreover the pump should be simple to manufacture and reliable when in use. Ecologically the new submergible self propelled pump must be invisible from the coast and it should not pollute the environment with any chemical or mechanical ballast which can cause any danger for fish offspring, i.e. for the flora and fauna of the water course. A special technical problem solved by submergible self propelled pump of the invention is very slow rotation of its driving blades which should not allow a speed exceeding 1 revolution per maximum 4 or 6 seconds regardless of potentially increased speed of the water, wherein the operation of the pump would be possible at an extremely low speed of the water stream even smaller than 0,1 m/sec. The optimum power should be reduced at the speed of water course of approx. 5,5 m/sec with standard declared efficiency reached by ½ of that speed. The speed of rotation of the driving blades should never exceed 1 revolution per 3,5 seconds, even if the speed of water is very high, like approx. 12 m/sec, in order to avoid damages of living persons or animals.

The submergible self propelled pump of the invention solves the set of technical problems as follows: the pump's driving axle gets rotational torque from the system of at least two pairs of radial rotating blades. The driving connection between driving blades and the pump is carried out in adequately, i.e. technically known way with respect to the technical variant of the self propelled submergible pump.

The invention will now be described in more detail based on embodiments and corresponding drawings representing in:

FIG. 1/4 side view of submergible self propelled pump of a peristaltic type with two pairs of driving blades arranged on its integrated main axle

FIG. 2/4 top view of submergible self propelled pump of a peristaltic type with two pairs of driving blades arranged on its integrated main axle

FIG. 3/4 side view of submergible self propelled pump of a centrifugal type with two pairs of driving blades connected together via revolution multiplier

FIG. 4/4 side view of submergible self propelled pump of a piston type with two pairs of driving blades with integrated axle equipped with eccentric system for propelling the hi-pressure piston pump

A self propelled submergible pump shown in the first embodiment in FIGS. 1/4 and 2/4 is fastened to a concrete or another type of heavy base 8, wherein outlet 4 and inlet 5 must be freely accessible for the connection of a pressure hose. On main axle 15 of peristaltic pump 1 equipped with at least double or and waterproof bearings are on the top mounted horizontal axles 13, 14 on which are fixed driving blades 11, 11′ on the first axle 14 and 12, 12′ on the second axle 13. Both axles 13, 14 are radially rotatable by angle determined limiters 10, wherein opposite blades 12, 12′ are fixed on the axle 13 with angle difference of approx. 60 degrees. The same different angle fixings are between blades 11, 11′. Both axles are radially rotatable and equipped with waterproof bearings. Blades 12, 12′ are rotated pushed by the water stream until lifted blade is coming to rotation by 180° around the main axle 15. In that position water stream pushes the lifted blade 12 to the horizontal position what is causing simultaneous lifting of the opposite blade 12′. The same will happen to the blades 11, 11′ and regarding of water stream direction, water stream will always activate a big stagnation pressure on the lifted blades, but against water stream direction there will be always moved a blades in horizontal position. Due to very high stagnation pressure on lifted blades against very small stagnation pressure on horizontal blades complete system will continuously rotate the main vertical axle 15 of submergible pump.

The peristaltic pump shown on FIGS. 1/4 and 2/4 may have two pairs of driving blades placed to its main axle 15. In less suitable hydrodynamic conditions it may have even three or more pairs of driving blades on which opposite blades are always connected regarding their synchronous radial rotation in the process of their lifting and dropping to horizontal position.

In order to increase capacity of peristaltic pump 1 under the preservation of their small external diameter two or more peristaltic pumps with integrated axle 15 may be used with one self propelled top parts explained on FIGS. 1/4 and 2/4.

In the first embodiment the self propelled submergible pump and its driving blades are described as mechanically connected to the same body. Very similar results we can achieve also by their separation if submergible peristaltic pump is fixed somewhere else on solid base 8 but equipped with submergible water resistant electric motor. At the same time on the central place on the bottom of vertical axle 15 must be fixed adequate water resistant electric generator which produces power for electromotor, which is driving described peristaltic pump.

The FIG. 3/4 shows the second embodiment, i.e. a side view of submergible pump 2 which is centrifugal type which requires much larger number of revolutions for efficient work. In described case centrifugal submergible pump 2 is connected with main axle 15 by means of mechanical geared or other type multiplier which increases number of revolutions between axle 15 and main axle of submergible centrifugal pump 2. In described case a propelling part remains the same as described in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1/4 and 2/4.

The third embodiment in FIG. 4/4 shows a side view of submergible self propelled pump 3 of a piston type, wherein at least two stop valves 7 are mounted on the cylinder, one of them allowing the water to enter the cylinder and the other allowing the water to leave the cylinder. The self propelled submergible pump of this type is driven via eccentrically designed system 9 fastened to vertical axle 15. A described system can be equipped with one submergible piston pump 3 or with more submergible piston pumps placed by known ways on solid base 8 and proper design of eccentric system, which is connecting axle 15 and one or more submergible piston pumps 3.

Eccentric system 9 can instead of submergible piston pumps directly or indirectly drive also adequate membrane submergible pumps or any other types of technically known mechanical pumps when they are adapted for operating under water level.

The self propelled submergible pump of any known type can be equipped with minimum two, three or even more pairs of driving blades. 

1. Self propelled submergible pump characterized in that a known mechanical pumps of a peristaltic, centrifugal, piston or membrane type are adapted in a known way for continuous operation under the water level wherein a system of their driving blades (11, 11′, 12, 12′) are fastened on their vertical driving axle (15) and above a driving means (16) where blades are mechanically connected to pairs in a way that one blade of every pair constantly turn the optimum large surface against the water stream whereas opposite blade simultaneously turn its minimum surface against the water stream, what causes the blades to rotate the vertical axle (15) due to different hydrodynamic forces and perform the driving power of the submergible pump with which it forms integrated mechanical unit with self propelled characteristics in different kind of moving water.
 2. Self propelled submergible pump as claimed in claim
 1. characterized in that said pump (1, 2, 3) does not pump water but air through an extended suction pump from the water banks said air is being injected under pressure as smallest possible bubbles into the bottom of the water course where is performing a known ecological function by oxidation of slurry and other organic impurities on the bottom and banks of the rivers
 3. Self propelled submergible pump as claimed in claim
 1. characterized in that a known mechanical pump is propelled indirectly by arranging a suitable submergible electric generator instead of peristaltic pump (1) and connecting it on the vertical axle (15) under system of driving blades (11, 11′, 12, 12′) wherein a part of generate electricity can drive electric motor connected to said pump (1, 2, 3) or electricity can be used for other purposes. 